Cloudbuster Nine

"Anne Keene's remarkable The Cloudbuster Nine is a terrific piece of research into a forgotten corner of American history―a place where the myths of major league baseball intersect with the myths of the Second World War. It is also a place inhabited by her own father, who becomes the myth that ties it all together. An excellent read!" ―S. C. GWYNNE, author of New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize "My father Ted Williams firmly believed, 'Perfection is attainable if you dare to work hard enough.' I applaud Anne Keene for capturing the untold historical facts of the first group of men who were sent to Chapel Hill for this path-breaking Naval aviation training program. Coupled with fantastic photos (many of which I had never seen of my father), the stories come to life with amazement in The Cloudbuster Nine." ―CLAUDIA WILLIAMS, author, Ted Williams, My Father "The Cloudbuster Nine is a captivating look at a fascinating piece of baseball―and American history. Hats off to Anne Keene for unearthing this story, and writing it down for us all." ―SCOTT ELLSWORTH, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Game "Just when you think you've read quite enough about baseball and WWII the Big One―thank you!―along comes Anne Keene, and you realize there will always be one more great story, lovingly told." ―ROB NEYER, author of Powerball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game, 2018 Casey Award Winner "An important story enriched by solid research and authorial commitment." ―Kirkus Reviews " ... a superb historic read that will inspire athletically gifted young men to also Patriotically Fly for Naval Aviation." ―DAN PEDERSEN, author of Topgun: An American Story Named among "Top 12 Titles for the New Baseball Season" ―Newsday Magazine Finalist for the CASEY Award for "Best Baseball Book" of 2018 "Nearly two decades after his death, we are still discovering how remarkable Ted Williams was--yes, as a ballplayer, but also as a man. The Cloudbuster Nine not only adds to that story, but reminds us how essential baseball was and still is to America, especially in a time of crisis. Teddy Ballgame was one of millions who deeply loved baseball and that passion, played out on thousands of dusty fields around the country, helped us win a war." --TOM CLAVIN, New York Times bestselling author and co-author of Being Ted Williams. "Well-written and impeccably researched, this captivating book offers new insights into the training that forged some of the most fabled members of the Greatest Generation." ―BILL NOWLIN, author or editor of more than 70 books on baseball including Ted Williams at War "This is a wonderful book for all baseball fans: a warm, rich personal story of America in the WWII era, a tale of boyhood, heroes, war, respect and remembrance. I loved it." --NOEL HYND, author of The Final Game at Ebbets Field and The Giants of the Polo Grounds "Finally, there is a book about the only time North Carolina was No. 1 in professional baseball in The Cloudbuster Nine." --D.G. MARTIN, author and host of "North Carolina Bookwatch" "A great read wrapped around two of my loves - aviation and baseball." ―Lt. Gen. ROBERT "BOOMER" MILSTEAD JR., USMC (RET.) "Recommended Reading in 2020," -- Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times contributor, author of seven books and the former co-host of "Ebert & Roeper and the Movies."